Rosary grad making splash at Princeton

Last season, former Rosary High water polo player Katie Rigler led Princeton with 76 goals as a sophomore. She was named Southern Division Player of the Year. COURTESY OF DAN AVILA

In 2009, during her junior year at Rosary High, Katie Rigler received a call from recruiters for Brown University.

No more than two seasons removed from her varsity apprenticeship, that phone call – the first of many that winter – heartened the future collegiate star.

"It was unbelievably humbling," said Rigler, a four-year letterman in water polo. "I didn't think that I had even a 10percent chance of getting into a school like that.

"Then, to be told I had an 80percent chance because of water polo, it was extremely humbling."

Before graduating the following spring, Rigler – a four-year scholar athlete – nabbed consecutive Trinity League MVP awards, as well as a USA Water Polo Academic All-American nod her senior year.

"I really progressed to that next level with the feedback from other people," she said. "Being recognized and rewarded for being a great athlete, and seeing other people's reactions showed me I could play in college."

With renowned universities such as UCLA and Brown courting her, Rigler chose Princeton.

"It was the most beautiful campus I'd ever seen," she said. "Also, I liked the idea of having a Princeton degree after I graduated."

More than 2,700 miles away from home, Rigler scored in 25 of 29 games her freshman year – a tally that included an eight-game scoring streak to open the season.

"I thought college water polo was going to be a completely different game, but it was pretty similar," she said. "I was really surprised."

In earning All-Southern Division honors, Rigler led the team with 56 goals and 17 multi-goal games.

"My coaches and teammates really set an even playing field," said Rigler, who, that April, scored seven goals in a game against Bucknell. "They said there were no such things as freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors. They told us to come in and play our best, and that good things would happen."

In 2012, Rigler followed her college debut with a brilliant encore.

Aside from her team-high 76 goals, the sophomore led Princeton to a 29-6 overall record, a Southern Division title and a sixth-place finish at the NCAA Women's Water Polo Championships in San Diego.

Last season, former Rosary High water polo player Katie Rigler led Princeton with 76 goals as a sophomore. She was named Southern Division Player of the Year. COURTESY OF DAN AVILA
Before Princeton, Katie Rigler was a four-year letterman in water polo at Rosary High. She was named Trinity League MVP as a junior and senior. COURTESY OF DAN AVILA
Katie Rigler COURTESY OF PRINCETON ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS

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